A Bill for a Law to Control Burial/Funeral Ceremonial Activities in Anambra State Passed Second Reading

The Anambra State House of Assembly yesterday (13/10/2016) considered for second reading,  a Bill for a Law to control Burial/Funeral Ceremonial Activities in Anambra State.

This Bill is intended to prohibit excessive spending and unnecessary expenses our people usually engage in during burial/funeral ceremonies.

Hon. Kingsley Iruba Contributing to the Debate
being a Major Sponsor of the Bill

By virtue of this Bill, no person shall deposit any corps in the mortuary or any other place beyond two months from the date of death.

The Bill is also aimed at encouraging our people to care for and celebrate their loved ones while they are alive and not at death. 

This Bill will also restrict the traditional rites of Umunna, Umuada,  Iyomdi etc during burial ceremonies.

The Bill further provides among other things that:

1. Town Union shall keep a register of all deaths in the town. 

2. The State shall establish and maintain burial grounds in all the local government areas in the state for the burial of any rejected or unidentified corps.

3. Any person who violates this law shall be guilty

of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine N500, 000. or imprisonment to a term of six months.

Generally, the purpose of this Bill is to put a stop to the untold financial hardships, sufferings, pains and agonies our people are directly or indirectly subjected to during burial/funeral ceremonies.

Having regard to the escalation of ostentatious and flamboyant burial, there is urgent need to control and to reduce the rate at which people lavish wealth during funeral ceremonies .

It is obvious that what happens during burial ceremonies nowadays, no longer reflects the emotional connection with the bereaved .

Hon. Kingsley Iruba Contributing to the Debate 
being a Major Sponsor of the Bill

Burial ceremonies have now become an opportunity to showcase and lavish wealth,  while when you closely you will notice that some on the neighbors of those people lavishing this wealth are still living in abject poverty. They can't help the poor but can lavish money on drinks and ashebis.

Giving such lifestyle many even borrow to meet the demands of the society  and not necessarily to mourn the dead.

Time of mourning should be respected. It is a time of sober reflection and not for merriment. When people come to an environment of mourning, they should be sober and their mood should reflect the situation.

But nowadays during burials even when the body has not been lowered, you will notice people eating and drinking champagne and other expensive liquor .

It is most surprising and painful that some of these people sharing and drinking champagne during the burial of their deceased (Eg father) NEVER showed their deceased father any love and care or a bottle of the  champagne to drink when he was alive.

Ironically and regrettably too, it is observed that most families till date could not afford to conduct the burial ceremonies of their deceased relation (father,  mother etc) simply because of the huge financial expenses and outdated cultures attached to burial. Some may just bury the deceased without any form of ceremony because in their culture, they must kill a cow for their father or grand father before the ceremony could go on. 

All these and other unnecessary activities during burial/funeral ceremonies should to be controlled.

This Bill was introduced by Hon. Charles Chukwuma Ezeani,  member representing Aniocha 2 constituency with me as a major sponsor.

We hereby solicit for your opinion, comments and suggestions.